Elizabeth Gilbert 'Let's call Perfectionism What It Really Is'

How does perfectionism stifle your creativity - and drive you to exhaustion? In this short interview with Hannah MacInnes, the bestselling author of Eat Pray Love and Big Magic Elizabeth Gilbert takes perfectionism to task. She says: " Perfection is just fear in high heels and a mink coat, pretending to be fancy. But it's just terror. Perfectionism is the lie that says there's a rent you have to pay to be on this earth... But it's not true. You don't have to be perfect to be here - or even good. You're allowed to just be."

[melanie]

Amen! It's not a virtue. It's crippling. A rent you feel you have to pay.

[J.Moyine]

Perfectionism is absolutely crippling. Truly. That nagging, incessant voice in your head will never accept ANYTHING that you produce as good enough. Having high standards, being meticulous, rigorous, disciplined, being consistent and having confidence are wonderful traits to cultivate and that is MORE THAN ENOUGH to get you wherever you need to go. Perfectionism can take a seat and just let divine creativity, commitment and devotion to one's craft lead the way💜

[MsBaruschka]

Wow this just changed my life in like split of a second wow...

[Erika-ixtg]

I loved each word she said. So precise and true. A punch direct to the ego

[IevaKambarovaite]

Enjoying the comments section so much. All the perfectionists not willing to let go and still seeing perfectionism as a vertue 😊
If I was not willing to understand that done is better than perfect I'd have never written my books.

[BaileyofMunich]

Elisabeth, you've just made me cry. THANK YOU 🙏 for being who you are. Greets from a hummingbird from Germany.

[Levandetag]

Just Lovely and so so Freeing, to listen to ;)

[gersomvanslooten]

Thank you! I'm a perfectionist and I've known why for a long time now. It's so hard to let go.

[channingparker]

On all that is holy, Thank you! This needs to be heard more.

[jehkjshrfk]

I'm a perfectionist and it doesn't have anything to do with fear. I just see how great things could be and can't settle for less.

[farrider]

Depends where "perfection" is applied....
A space shuttle demands a high degree of it - just to give an example...
*FEAR* is only there when societal things move into the field...
👋 .•°

[kellystorm]

Wow that is the most beautiful thing I've ever read in my whole entire life, I had friends over so I was reading the captions with my phone on silent, hence the description of read instead of heard lol.love the message anyways. Thank you

[ArdalanHamann]

I can totally understand and clearly feel that what known as perfectionism is ultimately a defense mechanism rooted in the fear of encountering unknown responses to one's external manifestation. I also appreciate the fact that such psychological mechanism sometimes happen to mislead and restrain many individual expressions specially among young and passionate creators. What I do not get from this 2 min statement is that why so angry against such mechanism and why raging against "fear"? Aren't all of these part of humanity? To me such anti-perfectionist movement sounds more like an anti-masturbation or anti-science charades than a well established philosophy; Being hysteric, reactive and exceedingly sentimental than rational. Killing perfectionism results in having Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and such as Musicians and Trumps as presidents. Self-control often means not claiming what you are not eligible for. Self-standards and self-discipline is what differentiates German Merkel from Brexit goons.

[lindamay]

How can anyone ever achieve perfection when the end result is completely subjective? You cannot please everyone with the work you do. Some will like it - some won't - simple as! And nobody is truly objective with their own work. So just chill guys. Good efforts are enough in my opinion.

[lovebirdkissesft.leopoldka]

Aww... that is so sad but freeing at the same time!

[reallyaznokidding]

For musicians:
Practice doesn't make perfect. Practice makes permanent.
Perfect practice makes perfect.

[kidzinamerica]

Someone go tell all the parents torturing their already perfect kids living in fear.

[gypsylee]

Marketers and advertisers know all about perfectionism and how to make money out of it.

[jamesharrisindianspringshs]

TLDR? Perfectionism is really just fear in disguise.

[glennturner]

There is a carpentry saying - Perfect is good enough!
It's about maintaining a high standard in your work which is very challenging but even more satisfying, and profitable because people will talk about my good works to their friends/family and I get referrals:)!!!
I don't seek perfection in my work due to fear!
You have to be fucked in the head to think like that!!!
I am a force of fucking nature and don't have time to waste on fear...:D